Shop vegan

This is a very brief post in order to share a link with you.

I am sick of reading and hearing about myself go on about the importance of supporting independent vegan business, so I can only imagine how you all feel.

But…

It is crucial that we shop with vegan owned businesses. It helps keep animals at the centre of the vegan message, it helps keep money in local communities, and it helps people create sustainable and fair employment for themselves.

In line with this thinking, Charley of The Incredible Nutshell in Sheffield has created a Google Map to highlight independent vegan grocery stores around the UK.

Click here to take a look. Please make time to visit one or more when you can and if one is nearby your house, make it a regular shopping destination.

Amazing vegan food in Mexico City

I spend a lot of time in Mexico City so it is always a thrill for me to try new vegan eateries in the mega city.

And the thrill rarely comes bigger than when I ate at Plan V.

Plan V is a relatively new cafe located in the trendy Condesa neighbourhood of Mexico City. The tree-lined streets are home to a huge number of cafes, restaurants, boutiques, and bakeries. Basically, it’s a visually pleasing place to spend an afternoon.

The menu at Plan V is classic Mexican cuisine done vegan. It is exquisite.

Every single thing that landed on our table was delicious, fresh, and well presented. Check out the images below to see what we tried.

Yes, it all tasted as good as it looks.

If you are in Mexico City, I can’t recommend this food highly enough. Plan V is the best vegan cafe in the city.

You can follow Plan V on Instagram and see the exact location thanks to Google Maps.

New seitan slices and pieces in the UK

Hey, friends.

Do you remember the new seitan company out of the UK called Love Seitan?

Love Seitan popped up at a few of my markets last year and have been steadily building their business ever since. They enjoyed an investment from VBites to help them with their expansion and now they have released a big range of seitan deli slices and pieces.

Check them out below.

In addition to the slices and pieces, Love Seitan have their large seitan blocks perfect for roast dinners.

The company is starting to roll out these products into independent food stores around the UK, but in the meantime you can order for home delivery from their website.

Click here to order now and follow Love Seitan on Instagram.

Ethiopian cooking class in London

Great news!

Join super talented food creator Woin for an unforgettable vegan Ethiopian cooking class in Brixton on Monday October 22, 2018.

Brixton vegan eatery Cafe Van Gogh has teamed up with Migrateful for this special cooking event.

Moin will be leading attendees through a series of vegan Ethiopian recipes, culminating with a gorgeous sit down meal to be shared by the group.

This is a very special opportunity that doesn’t come around very often, so be quick to book your tickets online now. You can also RSVP and invite friends on the Facebook event page.

Extra note: Migrateful uses cooking to support the integration process of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in London. Follow them on Facebook.

Vegan fish and chip shop opens in London

Sutton & Sons, the family run chippy, is launching London’s first stand-alone vegan fish & chip shop.

Opening at 240 Graham Road from 4th October, 2018, the restaurant will serve its signature vegan fish and chips made from banana blossom. A bespoke menu of gourmet vegan fast food dishes, desserts and soft and alcoholic drinks will also be available.

Danny Sutton, owner of Sutton & Sons said, “We’ve been completely gob smacked by the popularity of our vegan menu. People have visited us from all over the country, just to try our take on vegan fish. We didn’t have space in the Hackney branch like at Stoke Newington and Essex Road to provide the vegan menu, so we are chuffed to now provide a space dedicated to our new vegan customers.”

Sample menu:

(Prices the same for eat-in or takeaway)

  • Fish & chips £7.50
  • Fish burger £6.00
  • Battered sausage & chips £5.50
  • Prawn cocktail £5.50
  • Scampi and chips £6.00
  • Pie and mash £7.50

They have even created vegan friendly homemade tartare sauce for your dipping needs.

After successfully trialling different vegan options in January, Sutton & Sons previously rolled out a vegan menu in Stoke Newington & Essex Road branches. The vegan fish was so successful they sold out in the first week of the menu becoming full time.

You can follow the vegan Sutton & Sons on Instagram.

You can click here to see the exact location of the new vegan chippy thanks to Google Maps. It is just around the corner from Temple of Hackney, a 100% vegan owned and operated food business run by Temple of Seitan.

The new vegan Sutton & Sons is just a 20-minute walk from Hackney Downs Vegan Market, which is now on every Saturday and Sunday.

Special chocolate menu in London vegan restaurant

Calling all chocolate lovers!

National Chocolate Week is coming up soon and West London vegan restaurant Comptoir V will be joining thousands of chocolate-lovers around the country in celebration of everyone’s favourite sweet treat.

Comptoir V will be serving a vegan 3-course cacao-centric menu for the entire celebratory week (15th – 21st October, 2018).

The specially designed menu will include:

  • Starter options of Cocoa and Beetroot Bake with Scotch Bonnet Hummous
  • Mains of Black Bean Cocoa Infused Chilli with Guacamole and Vegan Creme Fraiche
  • Desserts including Gooey Chocolate Hummous Sundae, Chocolate Orange ‘Cheezecake’ and Moroccan Pancakes with Chocolate Hummous and Caramelised Biscuit filling served with vegan vanilla ice cream.

All dishes can be ordered separately or part of a 3-course menu including a cocktail or superfood hot drink for £29.95.

The Comptoir V cacao menu will be available from 15th – 28th October, 2018 and booking is recommended to avoid missing out.

Comptoir V in Kensal Rise is open from midday to 10PM from Monday to Friday and also midday to 11PM on Saturday and Sunday. To book or for more information on Comptoir V you can call 0203 092 0047 or visit their website.

Follow Comptoir V on Instagram.

Huge discount on vegan food this week in London

Brand new vegan restaurant Buffalo re-opens at 171 Mare Street, London E8 3RH (previously home to the awesome Brook Social) following on from a short stint on Brick Lane and you can get some bargain food this week!

The new look Buffalo is doubling down on their burger menu with the homemade Buffalo Burger and the groundbreaking Moving Mountains Burger. The Buffalo Cauli wings remain on the menu but now with three levels of spice options – mild, spicy and OUTRAGEOUS!

They’ve expanded the fries menu to include Cheezy Truffle Fries & Kimchi Fries. For dessert they’ve kept the Mousse au Chocolat and now also have a selection of milkshakes.

There is an expanded bar menu boasting twelve Hackney-brewed vegan beers, their house margarita, an espresso martini, and a full wine list.

BARGAIN EATING NEWS

The Buffalo soft launch is taking place from 6:00pm on both Wednesday October 3 and Thursday October 4, 2018.

You can get 50% off food on both opening nights. Yes, London! Half price vegan food at this brand new vegan restaurant in Hackney. Two nights only!

Message Buffalo via their Instagram account or email info@buffalodiner.co.uk to book a table. Tell them FGV sent you and that I wish them all the best with the new location!

Click here to see the exact location of Buffalo thanks to Google Maps.

Meat restaurant goes vegan in Seattle

This is some welcome news.

Stock was a meat-centric restaurant in Seattle that has shut down in order to re-open as a 100% planted based baked potato eatery!

I am beyond obsessed with potato and the menu at the newly-named Papas Hot Potatoes has me considering a trip to Seattle.

First of all you need to choose your base:

  • Classic Washington Russet
  • Sweet Potato
  • Crisp Red Cabbage Slaw

Then pick sauces:

  • Red Chili with Chipotle and Black Beans
  • New Mexican Green Chili with Green Lentils and Spinach
  • Queso
  • Extra Spicy Green Chilies

Finally they load up your toppings:

  • Miyoko’s Vegan Butter
  • Sour Cream
  • A Variety of House-Made Pickles
  • Smoky-Sweet Coconut Chips
  • Scallions
  • Cilantro
  • Secret Sauce/s

Papas is set to open in October 2018, giving you plenty of time to plan your own trip to Seattle.

Follow the restaurant on Instagram to stay tuned to what is certain to be a visual feast.

Vegan store damaged in fire

There has been some bad news this week out of Melbourne, Australia.

The Cruelty Free Shop in Fitzroy was severely damaged as a fire that started in the back alley behind the shop quickly spread to the shop, destroying stock and equipment in the process.

See a post made by the store owners below.

The store has asked for support in the form of people ordering stock through their online store. This will help them get back on their feet following on from the fire as quickly as possible.

The online store houses more than 3,500 products!

Of course they ship all over Australia, but unfortunately they do not send goods internationally.

If you don’t live in Australia but would like to support the Cruelty Free Shop in their efforts to rebuild the Fitzroy shop, now would be a great time to order a box of goodies for your Australia-based friends and family.

Click here to shop now.

Market deal on vegan bacon

Super quick post to let London people know about a special offer.

Vegan Cartel will be at Hackney Downs Vegan Market on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 September, 2018 with their incredible vegan bacon.

You can buy three packs of this seitan bacon for £10.

Great bargain for this locally made product.

You can see the full line up for this weekend’s market online here.